Decorated Corser lidded jar

Decorated Corser lidded jar

Decorated Corser lidded jar - 10" (254 mm) high.

Trevor Corser was born in Lancashire in 1938. His introduction to the
world of pottery was when he started working as a general assistant at the
Leach Pottery in 1966. He soon became
interested enough to want to learn to pot, and was accepted as a trainee.

He has remained at the Leach Pottery until 2006 when it was closed for refurbishment, and is now working at Gaolyard Pottery in St Ives with
with John Bedding.

His work, mainly stoneware with rich glazes, reflects the influences of his teachers.

In 1920 Leach and Hamada made the journey half-way around
the world to set up a pottery at St Ives in Cornwall. St Ives had long been
an artists' colony, and the pottery was built with the aid of a grant from
the Handicrafts Guild.

The first kiln, which was wood-fired, was made with three climbing chambers,
each six feet high, six feet wide and four feet deep. This was the first
of its type to be built in Britain, and was a disaster. In 1922 Leach had
to ask Tsuronosuke Matsubayashi to come from
the Asahi Pottery in Japan to re-build it. Matsu stayed for two years and
was a tremendous influence on the St Ives potters. His knowledge of the
chemistry of ceramics was a great help and something of an innovation to
Leach who had been concerned primarily with the aesthetics of pottery rather
than the technical aspects.

Leach and Hamada were like-minded and worked and relaxed well together.
Their ideal was a fusion of arts-and-crafts principles and a desire to make
pots of classic, simple beauty. Early English and Eastern designs in pottery
were their paradigm.

The early years were fraught with failures. Many firings were unsuccessful,
and expenses were high. There was also a lack of acceptance in many quarters
of the work, which often appeared crude by the standards of the day. Even
so, there were successful exhibitions in St Ives and in London, and many
pots found an eager welcome in Japan. Hamada returned to Japan in 1928,
but frequently visited St Ives.

The pottery was home to a succession of students and apprentices that
almost comprise a complete who's who of studio pottery, Michael Cardew heading the list. Every
student and apprentice was taught that his first aim should be to throw
to a standard; to be able to execute repetitive work accurately. Only when
this was achieved, said Leach, could a potter call himself a thrower rather
than an improviser. Leach's sons, David and Michael learnt their craft at the Leach
Pottery before taking part in regular production and management.

The post-war years brought more success and critical acclaim, perhaps
helped by Leach's writing. He continued potting until 1972 with the help of William Marshall, his very first apprentice,
and died in 1979. The pottery remained open under the direction of Bernard's
wife, Janet Leach. After her death
in 1999 it was bought by businessman Alan Gillam, owner of the Western Hotel
in St Ives. Trevor Corser and Joanna Wason are the main potters. The
Pottery Cottage, next to the pottery, is now open as a museum, showing many
examples of work of the fine potters who have contributed to the astounding
reputation of the Leach.

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